Archive for 'Self Awareness'

Below are a few more questions that I ask my clients (and myself) each year. They help clarify how you want to learn, grow and succeed over the next twelve months. Give yourself permission to take some time over the next week to reflect and record your thoughts. Here we go…

Looking forward at the year 2011, what do you want the overall theme to be for you? (Here’s another way to look at this: One year from today, if they were to make a movie about your life in the year 2011, what would you want the title to be?)

What are your top three personal goals for the year 2011?

1.

2.

3.

What are your top three professional goals for the year 2011?

1.

2.

3.

What one personal quality do you most want to develop in the year 2011? (For example: patience, boldness, courage, calmness, integrity, humor,etc.)

What daily rituals can you practice to improve your health, wealth and wisdom in 2011?

I recommend that you keep your answers in a place you can read them on a daily basis. That will help you stay aware of the opportunities that can help you move toward your intentions. I wish you the best as you move into 2011 with clarity, action and focus.

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." -Gandhi

Find a scrap piece of paper. Got it? Now imagine that this piece of scrap paper is you. Let’s say that you promised a friend that you would meet him for lunch at noon. But at twelve you are still at your office replying to an e-mail someone sent you about a possible new business opportunity. You finally buzz out the door at 12:10 and you arrive at the café at 12:25. Your friend is waiting there, concerned and frustrated. Your excuse? “Sorry, I just had to handle something at the office.”

To represent this event, tear off a small piece of that scrap paper.

Now, imagine that you made a promise to your child that you would take her to the park after school. But when you pick up your kid your excuse is, “Oh, I’m sorry honey. I’ve got to go by the post office and we won’t have time to go to the park today.”

To represent this event, tear off another piece of that scrap paper.

Go ahead and rip off a piece of paper for every resolution you didn’t keep, an agreement you broke, or a goal you abandoned. After ripping off all of those pieces, look at the small piece of paper you have left over. Do you know what that’s called? A flake. Not much of anything, is it? Whether it’s a promise you make to yourself or to someone else, it doesn’t serve anyone when you’re a flake.

In contrast, when you do what you say you’ll do something very powerful happens. You prove to yourself that you can be counted on. When you can count on yourself — no matter what the situation is – your self-esteem (and your happiness) expands.

Isn’t that worth focus and action?

NOTE: Please don’t think that I’m saying, "I never flake." Whatever I write or speak about is also for me to examine and take in. Like you, I strive to be the best person I can be. As I read this issue, I was thinking, "Okay Rich, how can YOU better live this lesson?"

ACTION IDEA:

Starting right now — make only promises that you can keep and keep the promises you make. You’ll be amazed at what it will do for your relationships, your business, and your peace of mind.